Never Stop Climbing

Jermaine Gonzales – Guadalupe Peak Summit

Age: 33
Residence: Houston, Texas
Occupation: Web Developer
Birthplace: Big Spring, TX
Email: jermaine -AT- neverstopclimbing.com
Twitter: jgonzales
Facebook: Jermaine Gonzales
Stuff: Jermaine’s Gear

Sitting in front of a computer for 7 years can get a bit monotonous. The same events day in and day out can cause you to ask yourself, “Is this all there is to life?” The answer is a big resounding “No!” I know there is more out there. I just have to go out and find it, so I have committed myself to the journey of CHANGE. I have begun to change the way I live, think, and interact with my surroundings.

I decided to try mountain climbing because it is not just about physical ability but mental ability as well. Mountain climbing will provide me with opportunities to change my body physically, think differently, and interact with new surroundings.

Having made this decision I, obviously, had to begin with getting my body back into shape. I was lucky enough to move into a new apartment with a nice gym, so my workouts have become even easier. My workouts started off at just 30 minutes on the treadmill and then eventually I increased my time up to an hour. When the treadmill no longer proved a challenge, I moved on to the elliptical trainer. I do my workouts Monday through Friday and leave my weekends open for more enjoyable things.

I have also made changes in my diet. I never imagined I would go to the store and read and compare so many labels. I try to keep my calorie intake around 1500. I also try to keep the fat intake low and reduce the amount of sodium in the foods I buy. I plan on beginning weight training and maybe even hiring a personal trainer and talking to a dietitian to really rev things up. I have been on many diets in the past and decided not to do anything extreme. My life change is not about making myself miserable. It is about making the most of my life.

If you are going to make changes you can make them big or make them small. When you look back on your life, what will stand out in your mind?